THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 27 #17 Tuesday, October 2, 2012 health & Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 [email protected] beauty [email protected] page16 www.echo.net.au CAB 23,200 copies every week AUDIT MEDIA FOR THE MESS AGE Inside Barbé Graces Councillors’ Letters Sample North coast’s Byron Shire this NORPA’s World fi rst day to the food fest best gig guide Council Notices week Stage – p20 report – p7 Ed – p11 – p18–19 – p26 Page 43 Beachside bargains Alan Jones barred from CSG rally Luis Feliu Jones told a receptive dinner audi- abhorrence of his comments. We had ence that Ms Gillard’s recently-de- to decide whether, in all conscience Shock-jock Alan Jones, who sparked ceased father John had ‘died of shame’ and with our personal integrity intact, a storm of backlash for his off ensive over his daughter. we could welcome him to the stage in comments about prime minister Julia The comments and fallout, with Murwillumbah,’ he said. Gillard’s late father, has been removed several of Jones’s radio station adver- ‘What it came down to was a deci- as headline speaker for the upcom- tisers boycotting him, were record- sion about whether we could, based ing Rock the Gate anti-coal-seam gas ed by a journalist at the dinner and on Alan Jones’s comments, the overall (CSG) rally in Murwillumbah. splashed over media across the nation campaign against coal and coal- seam Rally organiser Michael McNa- at the weekend. gas and our personal sense of integrity, mara, spokesman for the Lock the Mr McNamara said the organisa- continue to have Alan Jones involved. Gate Northern Rivers, said the rally tion had considered its options before Mr McNamara said it ‘has also been on Saturday October 13 would still go making the decision ‘as to whether suggested to us that to withdraw the ahead but without the controversial Jones will be welcomed to speak at invitation to Alan Jones would in some broadcaster. what could be the biggest stand made way deny him “freedom of speech”. The backlash has spilled over to against coal-seam gas mining to date’. ‘Alan Jones expresses his opinions the anti-CSG campaign, with people ‘To see a womans’ eff orts in any on a multitude of issues every morn- emailing and posting comments on sphere of endeavour pilloried simply ing on the radio, so not being able to social media threatening to boycott because she is a woman is despicable. speak at this event would hardly cur- the rally if Jones was speaking. To denigrate women’s capacity to fi ll tail his opportunity to make his views In a press release explaining the any role in public life goes against known,’ he said. ‘To those who said decision, Mr McNamara said the or- everything I have worked for both in they would not come if Alan Jones is ganisation had decided yesterday to my professional and personal lives,’ speaking, we say leave the personality withdraw the invitation to Jones ‘fol- Mr McNamara said. politics out of the campaign. Stooping lowing derogatory comments made ‘In terms of our personal integ- to personality politics is exactly what on Saturday by Mr Jones’ to a Young rity, we believe that we had to make you are accusing Alan Jones of doing.’ Liberals dinner. a strong statement that refl ected our ■ Editorial page 10 The world’s a stage for Ego and Sal Photo & story Eve Jeff ery Mignon Frances had a busy day at her recycled fashion stall at Saturday’s Beachside Market in Byron’s Apex Park. Photo Jeff ‘Recycled Since 1986’ Dawson A one-day celebration of cultural di- versity through music and food will be presented by NORPA at the Lis- Mullum hospital decision Nov 28 more City Hall this Saturday . World Stages features Creole afro- ‘A decision over the trial of replacing ‘If the Board’s decision is “No” then funk queen Grace Barbé with her Mullumbimby Hospital’s on-site night an announcement will be made im- band from the Seychelles, along with doctor with telehealth doctor support mediately. If the Board’s decision is six other world-class music acts to get from Th e Tweed Hospital (TTH) will that the trial of the TTH doctor uti- you dancing, including Latin, reggae, be made at a meeting of the Board on lising the telehealth system replacing hip-hop, Italian 30s/40s swing, funk November 28, says Frank Lynch from the onsite doctor during the 11pm to and folk. Save Mullumbimby Hospital Steering 7am shift will proceed then that deci- With plenty of kids’ activities and Committee. sion will also be announced immedi- roaming performances, the event ‘From the August 29 meeting, the ately along with the start date, which will start with a Welcome to Coun- Local Health Board authorised chief is likely to be sometime in the fi rst try and smoking ceremony at 1pm executive Chris Crawford to continue quarter of 2013. and stalls with African, Indian and the process of determining whether ‘The trial will only occur if it is Brazilian feasts will be available the replacement of the night doctor by agreed to by the Mullumbimby Hos- throughout the day. East Timorese musician Ego Lemo and local percussionist/festival co-organiser the telehealth link was feasible,’ he says. pital nursing staff .’ For more visit www.norpa.org.au. Salvador Castro are just two performers at the upcoming World Stages festival. <echowebsection=Local News> Local News MP Page’s offi ce again targeted by CSG free campaigners Wilsons Creek landslip update Hans Lovejoy told The Echo Mr Page was in- tended and it was a construc- vited and was in all likelihood tive discussion. I will take his Draft road reconstruction de- MP Don Page was a no-show in his offi ce at the time. concerns to the portfolio min- signs have been completed and outside his Ballina office on But MP Page told The Echo, isters who have carriage of the are under review for the Wil- Friday despite around 70 pro- ‘I was not invited to speak at policy designed to ensure any sons Creek Road landslip, say testors rallying over the recent any rally nor was I advised it CSG proposal does not aff ect Council staff ; however, fi xing CSG mining licences that have was on. I had appointments our land and water resources the road may still be a while off . been granted to the northern in the northern end of the in any negative way.’ Part of the road collapsed in rivers region by his party. electorate… However one of The NSW government has January this year aft er heavy CSG Free Northern Rivers the organisers had made an renewed 22 exploration licences rain, and was declared a natu- spokesperson and co-organiser appointment to see me later covering over fi ve million hec- ral disaster by the NSW state of the event, Gordon Fraser, in the afternoon which I at- tares of land in NSW but also government. announced some of the tough- And despite the recent dry est laws governing the industry. spell, large water truck deliver- MIGRATION ASSISTANCE Former neighbour of Mr ies should not be using the road, Page and member of Knitting say Council. Th ere is an estimat- Would you like to live or work Nannas Against Gas, Anne ed 400 people who live beyond Th ompson, told The Echo she the landslip. in Australia? Mayor Richardson also en- has become a professional ac- One of the estimated 70 that attended a CSG Free rally on Friday. couraged the residents to up- LINDSAY WOOTTEN tivist in the last two years be- Photo Jeff ‘Gasbagging’ Dawson cause of this issue. date their bushfi re emergency Solicitor MARN 0213118 She says she was previously a for someone who is 100 per originally. Why doesn’t one of plans. ‘Everyone should be Your local migration consultant for National Party voter but unless cent behind this industry,’ she them have the guts to cross the getting bushfi re prepared and assistance with all migration and visa matters. they change their policy she says. ‘Th ey [Th e National Party] fl oor and do what’s right? clearing out gutters, removing Phone 6684 7318 or 0427 210993 won’t vote for the party again. should be for the country peo- ‘Th ey would be such heroes any rubbish, and keep the grass ple, that’s what they were about if they did that.’ short,’ he says. email: [email protected] ‘I would rather die than vote Samaritan or nuisance? Man fi ned aft er intervening with bouncers Eve Jeff ery hours of April 6. Mr O’Neill field’s continued troublesome statements from police were told the court that Mr North- and intoxicated behaviour. tendered – to the consent of A 19-year-old Byron Bay man fi eld, who admitted to the court Mr Northfield, who was Mr Northfi eld. Aft er court, Mr last Friday told the local court that he had consumed ‘four or without legal representation, Northfi eld said that it was al- he was trying to help a bouncer fi ve beers’ earlier in the even- says that he thought he wasn’t most fi ve months aft er the inci- do his job when he was arrest- ing, had been intoxicated and charged for any off ence at the dent. Magistrate Michael Dakin ed in April this year and later abusive while in the line wait- time.